Jónar Transport
Jónar Transport is an Iceland-based full-service freight forwarder offering air, sea, customs, and specialized project logistics, including pharmaceutical and entertainment tour cargo, across 40-plus countries via own offices and an agent network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersReykjavík, Iceland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Jónar Transport does
Jónar Transport is a full-service Icelandic freight forwarder offering international air, sea, and overland freight forwarding, customs brokerage, project cargo, and cargo insurance. Founded in 1979 in Hafnarfjörður and now headquartered in Reykjavík, the company has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Samskip since 2000, integrating its forwarding operation with parent-group ocean capacity. Its service portfolio spans general cargo, temperature-controlled and pharmaceutical (GDP-certified) shipments, dangerous goods (IATA DGR-certified), and a dedicated Special Projects division handling complex, non-standard freight including international music tours and film/series productions (e.g., Guns N' Roses, Justin Bieber, Fast & Furious, Game of Thrones).
Operational reach is built on directly owned offices in Iceland, Rotterdam, Hull/Immingham, London, Århus, Copenhagen, Helsingborg, and Norfolk (US), combined with WACO network membership since 1984 and an agent network spanning more than 40 countries. In 2009 the company acquired Iceco ehf. to broaden its in-Iceland footprint, and in 2014 it launched a Client Portal giving shippers self-service visibility on bookings and documents. The 2016 addition of temperature-controlled vans and its 2020 role in COVID-19 vaccine distribution into Iceland reflect a deliberate push into regulated, higher-margin cold-chain and pharmaceutical logistics.
The business model is B2B project- and contract-based forwarding, monetized through freight margins, customs brokerage fees, project handling charges, and insurance commissions across a diversified base of pharmaceutical, automotive, consumer goods, high-tech, fashion, and entertainment customers. Distribution is direct via own offices supplemented by long-standing global agent relationships; no consumer-facing or marketplace channel is used. The company is privately held under Icelandic company law (hf.) with no disclosed revenue or funding events.
Jónar Transport firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Jónar Transport
- Legal name
- Jónar Transport hf.
- Website
- https://jonar.is
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Jónar Transport is an Iceland-based full-service freight forwarder offering air, sea, customs, and specialized project logistics, including pharmaceutical and entertainment tour cargo, across 40-plus countries via own offices and an agent network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Jónar Transport industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Freight Forwarding and Logistics Services
- NAICS
- Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Deep Sea Freight Transportation (483111), Water Transportation (483)
- SIC
- Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412), Transportation Services (4700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ocean Freight Brokerage (FCL/LCL) (TLADAMAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Customs Brokerage for Ocean Shipments (Import/Export Clearance) (TLACABAG), Ocean Import Forwarding (Destination Handling/DO/ISF) (TLACABAE), Trade Compliance & Ocean Regulatory Services (Sanctions/Export Controls) (TLACABAL), Cross-Border Freight Brokerage (USMCA/EU, etc.) (TLADAMAN)
Keywords
Where Jónar Transport is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Reykjavík
- HQ country
- Iceland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices8 records
Markets served
Jónar Transport business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Freight Forwarding Services: Jónar Transport charges fees for arranging and managing freight shipments via air, sea, and special projects. Revenue is generated through transportation costs, handling fees, and service charges associated with import and export logistics. The company also earns commissions from partner airlines and shipping lines.
- Customs Brokerage: The company provides customs documentation and brokerage services as part of its comprehensive offering, handling electronic customs registration and clearance on behalf of clients.
- Cargo Insurance: Jónar offers tiered cargo insurance products (Type A, B, and C) to customers, providing coverage for shipments against loss or damage during transit.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Type A: Shipments up to ISK 6.1 million |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Type B: Shipments from ISK 6.1 million to ISK 24 million |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Type C: Shipments exceeding ISK 24 million |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Jónar Transport product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Jónar Transport is a full-service Icelandic freight forwarder providing import and export logistics solutions to and from Iceland. The company arranges air freight, sea freight (LCL and FCL), customs documentation and brokerage, and specialized project transport (concert tours, film productions, oversized cargo). It supports shipments with door-to-door handling, temperature-controlled and dangerous goods capabilities, and a dedicated client portal for bookings, invoicing, and shipment tracking.
Product overview
Jónar Transport is a full-service freight forwarding company offering comprehensive logistics solutions for import and export to/from Iceland. The core portfolio includes five main service lines: Air Freight (Flugsendingar), Sea Freight (Sjósendingar), Special Projects (Sérverkefni), Customs Documentation & Brokerage (Tollskjalagerð), and Industrial Solutions (Iðnaðarlausnir). Supporting digital infrastructure includes a Client Portal for managing bookings and invoices, an online Quote Request System, and Cargo Insurance services. The company specializes in complex, highly specialized shipments across industries including automotive, pharmaceutical, fashion, high-tech, and entertainment (concerts/film).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Air Freight (Flugsendingar) Comprehensive air freight service combining import and export into a streamlined solution, offering general air freight, express delivery, consolidation services, and specialized handling for dangerous goods and temperature-controlled pharmaceutical shipments. Targeted at businesses moving cargo to or from Iceland.
- Sea Freight (Sjósendingar) Complete sea freight solutions to and from Iceland with weekly sailings, offering both FCL (Full Container Load) and LCL (Less than Container Load) solutions through partnerships with leading shipping companies. Targeted at businesses importing or exporting general or containerized cargo via ocean.
- Special Projects (Sérverkefni) Specialized transport solutions for large-scale projects including concerts, film industry, advertising, conferences, exhibitions, charter flights, multi-component transport, art transport, and oversize cargo. Targeted at music, film, and event production companies needing bespoke, time-critical logistics.
- Customs Documentation & Brokerage (Tollskjalagerð) Electronic customs registration, full documentation handling, and direct communication with customs authorities, including customs clearance, provisional duties, temporary importation, ATA Carnet, and general import/export documentation. Targeted at any business moving goods through Icelandic customs.
- Industrial Solutions (Iðnaðarlausnir) Tailored logistics solutions for various industries including Automotive, Consumer Goods, Temperature-Controlled Logistics, High-Tech, Music & Film, Events, Pharma & Biotech, and Fashion. Targeted at industry-specific shippers needing specialized handling and compliance.
- Client Portal (Þjónustuvefurinn) Secure online platform providing customers access to bookings, invoices, and service requests, enabling self-service management of freight forwarding needs with Jónar Transport. Targeted at existing B2B customers managing ongoing import/export shipments.
- Quote Request System Online form-based system allowing prospective customers to request shipping quotes for import/export shipments, with options for air freight and sea freight. Targeted at prospective B2B customers initiating new freight engagements.
- Cargo Insurance (Farmtryggingar) Three-tier cargo insurance coverage for shipments against loss or damage during transit: Type A covers up to ISK 6.1 million for ISK 3,000 per shipment; Type B covers ISK 6.1-24 million at 0.34% of C+F value; Type C covers amounts above ISK 24 million with custom arrangements. Targeted at customers shipping goods with Jónar Transport.
Quantifiable outcome
- Home delivery of air freight shipments completed within 4 hours of customs release
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Jónar Transport
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Jónar Transport technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Jónar Transport partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- SamskipcoreSamskip acquired Flutningsmiðlunin Jónar in 2000, merging it with BM Flutningar to form Jónar Transport hf. Samskip is a major multimodal transport company operating shipping, transport, and logistics services. The relationship involves shared infrastructure, shipping routes, and operational synergies, with Samskip serving as the parent company and key operational partner.
- WACO (World Air Cargo Organization)coreJónar Transport joined the international WACO freight-forwarding network in 1984, gaining access to a global network of freight forwarding partners. WACO is a world air cargo organization providing Jónar with international referral business and network partnerships across the globe.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves17 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Jónar Transport competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Flexport: Digital-first global freight forwarder offering air, ocean, trucking, and customs brokerage via a tech platform. Comparable as an emerging player that is disrupting traditional forwarders like Jónar with software-led freight forwarding and shipment visibility.
Broad incumbents
- DSV: Global transport and logistics company offering air and sea freight forwarding, road, and contract logistics across 80+ countries. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering the same core freight forwarding, customs, and special cargo services that Jónar provides to Iceland and beyond.
- DHL Global Forwarding: DHL's freight forwarding division provides air, ocean, and road freight forwarding plus customs services globally, including specialist life sciences and cold-chain capabilities. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for the same international shippers and pharma clients using Iceland trade lanes.
- DB Schenker: Global logistics provider offering land, air, and ocean freight forwarding plus contract logistics, with strong European presence. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering similar freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and industry-vertical logistics solutions that overlap with Jónar's portfolio.
- Expeditors International: Global logistics company focused on air and ocean freight forwarding plus customs brokerage, with no asset-based trucking. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering asset-light international freight forwarding services similar to Jónar's core model.
- Maersk Logistics & Services: Integrated container shipping and logistics arm of A.P. Moller-Maersk, offering ocean freight plus end-to-end supply chain management including customs and cold-chain. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering integrated ocean freight forwarding and door-to-door logistics services similar to Jónar's sea freight and customs offering.
- Kuehne+Nagel: One of the world's largest global freight forwarders with air, sea, road, and contract logistics operations. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering similar air and sea freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and industry-specific solutions (including pharma and high-tech) across global lanes that include Iceland.
Direct peers
- Eimskip: Iceland's other major freight forwarding and shipping company, operating scheduled LCL/FCL sailings between Iceland, Europe, and North America. Most directly comparable to Jónar given overlapping Iceland-centric ocean freight forwarding business.
- Samskip: Jónar's parent company and one of the largest multimodal transport groups in the Nordics, offering ocean, road, rail, and cold-chain logistics across Europe. Comparable as both parent and operator of overlapping sea freight forwarding and intermodal services in the same Iceland–Europe trade lanes.
Regional players
- Icelandair Cargo: Air cargo division of Icelandair Group operating scheduled and charter air freight services to/from Iceland via Keflavik. Comparable as a regional player offering air freight forwarding capacity on the same Iceland trade lanes that Jónar arranges.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Customer concentration
Jónar Transport social profiles
Digital presenceJónar Transport compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Jónar Transport financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Jónar Transport leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Jónar Transport funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Jónar Transport M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Jónar Transport
What does Jónar Transport do?
Jónar Transport is a full-service Icelandic freight forwarder providing import and export logistics solutions to and from Iceland. The company arranges air freight, sea freight (LCL and FCL), customs documentation and brokerage, and specialized project transport (concert tours, film productions, oversized cargo). It supports shipments with door-to-door handling, temperature-controlled and dangerous goods capabilities, and a dedicated client portal for bookings, invoicing, and shipment tracking.
Is Jónar Transport a public or private company?
Jónar Transport is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Jónar Transport founded?
Jónar Transport was founded in 1979. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Jónar Transport based?
Jónar Transport is headquartered in Reykjavík, Iceland, in the Europe region.
How does Jónar Transport make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Freight Forwarding Services are the primary driver. The others are customs Brokerage and cargo Insurance.
Who are Jónar Transport's main competitors?
Flexport is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are DSV, DHL Global Forwarding, DB Schenker, Expeditors International, Maersk Logistics & Services and Kuehne+Nagel. Direct peers are Eimskip and Samskip. Icelandair Cargo is listed as a regional player.
Does Jónar Transport have an API?
No public API is recorded for Jónar Transport.
What industry is Jónar Transport in?
Jónar Transport's product category is Freight Forwarding and Logistics Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLADAMAF, Ocean Freight Brokerage (FCL/LCL), with a secondary code of TLACABAG, Customs Brokerage for Ocean Shipments (Import/Export Clearance). Its NAICS code is 488510 and its SIC code is 4731.